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A fine and unique take on crime fiction, 1 Feb 2003

When I first read this book, I was amazed to see it belonged in the child's fiction catagory. Although the writing style is simple enough for children, some of the nuances of the story may be beyond them, and it is this that helps older readers enjoy it also.
Starting in a French castle, the story leaps almost immediately into the plot of this, and the coming series of books. Our hero, Joslin de Lay, finds himself on an epic quest, but finds many problems on the way, the first of which he encounters after landing himself in the south east of England.
The many characters that Joslin meets are some of the books finer points. Each one, with their little idiosyncrasies, play an… Read more

A gripping end to a gripping series, 1 Feb 2003

In the final book of the Joslin de Lay mystery series, we discover the real truth behind Joslin's history, his father's secret locket, and that odd man with the sallow, pock marked face who has been following our crime solving minstrel.
Although in places the story may be a little slower and less heart racing than the other books, the plot contains many interesting twists, including the reappearance of one of Joslin's old flames!
But the main reason why you would want to buy this book is to find the answers to all the questions that we've thought up since reading the first book.
Denis Hamley's writing appeals to all ages, and this book is a fitting end to an impressive series… Read more